joeseph h,

I continue to enjoy your posts, you put alot of time and thought into them, for that I thank you.

joe m,

interesting approach, I did look at your web site and agree with some of what you are saying about supervisors needing to be involved and taking the lead in training folks, that is 100% accurate.

As for the rest of it, about classrooms, instructors, videos and written tests being of no value, that would hard to prove with your extensive database or any other. I do agree that a video is not a total program or solution and that many classes and materials are not worth much, but to make a across the board statement like you do I can't agree with that. You may have alot of customers, but to be statistically significant in terms of impact to the US or the world that won't be the case. I see the word license mentioned on your site alot, do you think it is a good idea to be using that terminology with the current set of rules OSHA has in place? I usually correct customers when they use that term, its meaning has some fairly broad reaching consequences.

Injury, illness, and fatality information can be found on the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics web site. Data has a two year lag time. 2005 is current data. 2007 data will be available in 2009.

Google: BLS SURVEY OF OCCUPATIONAL INJURIES, ILLNESSES, AND FATALITIES HOME PAGE

Click on: Fatal injuries - 2005 preliminary data now available. Under the heading Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (preliminary data) select the desired search category.

(also)

Click on: NEW Case and demographic characteristics. Select desired category from: Resource Table Categories - Calendar Year 2005 Survey Results. Select any desired sub-category for data review.

There is statistical information available on various material moving/industrial truck subjects. It has to be mined, however, and obtained bit by bit.
_____

Those interested in useful information for training purposes would be better served using the information that can be found in the NIOSH FACE program.

Google: NIOSH FATALITY ASSESSMENT AND CONTROL EVALUATION FACE PROGRAM

Under Cause, click on: Machine Related and scroll through the (Manufacturing, Farming, Construction, or General) sections of the NIOSH FACE data or the participating State FACE data looking for the words forklift or other key words such as skid steer, etc., in the synopsis. Click on any report number for a detailed report.

An actual incident has more meaning than a simple statistic.

You can subscribe to a free NIOSH automatic e-mail announcement service for new FACE reports as they become available by submitting your e-mail address at the bottom of the FACE home page.
_____

OSHA does not collect statistical data on the effect of training in the reduction of accidents. It's premise is that a reduction in accidents should come as a result of proper training.

NIOSH contracted one dubious study pertaining to training effectiveness in 1984 which OSHA used in 1996 during its proposed rulemaking for OSHA CFR 1910.178.

Google: OSHA SECTION 4 - IV STUDIES OF ACCIDENT AND INJURY DATA AND TRAINING for the report synopsis (B. Studies Measuring the Effectiveness of Powered Industrial Truck Safety Training Programs).

I have, since 2004, asked the same question of OSHA, NIOSH, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics in the United States. Although the various government representatives assure me that stats do exist, they also assure me that they are to be found with a word search at the Bureau of Labor Statistics' web site. I assure you that NO USEFUL "Powered Industrial Truck-related training" STATISTICS EXIST AT ANY OF THESE AGENCIES. I would be delighted if someone...anyone... would prove me wrong in the matter!

I have only one source for useful information in regard to training-related forklift statistics. It is the proprietary National LIFTOR data base that has been investigating training interventions since 1985, on behalf of client subscribers. The National LIFTOR System relies fundamentally on the data that comes from our ongoing study. This data, gives us the basis for continuous improvement in the training-related interventions of LIFTOR.

For example, based upon our data, we have come to important conclusions such as:

1) Classroom based instruction is almost a total waste of time and may even increase, rather than decrease, the risk of injury among operators...no matter how high the quality of the instructor, the audio-visuals, or the in-classroom discussions, and

2) Pencil-and-paper (or computer-based) tests, quizzes, skill checks or assessments are typically and almost totally useless for inferring the skills of an operator. Further, pencil-and-paper tests are too superficial to have mush to do with actual on-job safety. Instead of pencil-and-paper tests, or the like, a content valid and reliable on-truck performance test (also known as a work sample. high-fidelity simulation, etc.) is most useful in predicting the incidence of serious injury, and can allow for accurate diagnosis of the operator's skill repertory. Conclusions like these have caused me to alter and improve the affects of my training and consultation on risk of serious operator injury.

And, yes, we actually follow our own data-based conclusions, even when some of them fly in the face of conventional training practices. I for one, have never regretted doing so, because I have seen the long-term affects on the productivity and safety of operators. Finally, I have also found that OSHA and NIOSH agree with the LIFTOR approach.

For a look at some of the early statistics and conclusions we shared with OSHA during the hearing on the latest OSHA rules on training, surf to OSHA DOT gov. Then, search docket #S-008. Then, look for Exhibit #7-60.

Best wishes,

Joe Monaco
President, Monaco Group, Inc.
www DOT LIFTOR DOT COM